Improved self-rocking cradle



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

O. HJHELMKAMP, OF READING, OHIO.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 41,507, dated February9, 1864.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES H. HELM- KAMP, of Reading, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvementin SelfRocking Cradles; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, making part of this specification.

The object of my invention is a construction of rocking mechanism for acradle that shall be free from the abrupt movements and clicking soundsto which the customary self-rocking attachments are subject.

The accompanying drawing is a transverse section of a cradle providedwith my self-rocking attachment.

A represents a box containing a mainspring similar to that of a clock,and which may be wound up in the same way, and may be connected by thecustomary ratchet or otherwise with a drivingwheel, a, which, throughthe medium of a series of multiplying gearing, B C D, imparts rotationto a crank, L, which is connected by pitman E with the arm F, whichprojects from the rocking beam G G. 'Two rods, H Hf, pivoted to the endsof the beam G G, traverse guides J J upon the inner faceof the rocker,and by alternately pressing upon the floor impart the desired rockingmotion to the cradle.

It is n ot intended in practice that the rods H H shall leave the Hoor,but to insure against any striking or scratching action thereon the rodsmay be shod with india-rubber or other soft substance.

It willbe seen that there is a continuous contact of the driving andtransmitting mechanism A a B C D E F GG H H entirely free from anyescapement or disconnected movements such as prevail in devices of thiskind, and which by its unpleasant clicking noise and abrupt movementsact to frustrate the A prime object of the machine. In my device anunbroken contact is preserved from the mainsprng to the floor, and hencethe rocking action takes place silently. and without jar or abruptmovement of any sort.

I have selected to illustrate my invention a form which I havesuccessfully tested in ordinary use, but do not desire to restrict theimprovement to the precise arrangement shown so long as the end isreached by means substantially equivalent-for example, the rods H Hbeing omitted and the remaining portion of the mechanism being attachedlower down and in an inverted position, the rocking action may beeffected by the direct impact of the beam G G upon the floor.

I claim herein as new and of my invention- The combination ofthespringbox A, gearing a B C D, crank L, pitnnan E, rocking beam G G',and rods H H', constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

Witnesses: C. H. HELMKAMP.

S. BURKHALTER, ZoNr TERHAAR.

